Armoured up for autumn

One of New York’s favourite designers, Tory Burch, has launched a new autumn and winter 2014 collection for which she’s drawn inspiration from the armour her father and grandfather collected. Thai fashionistas got to see the outfits and accessories at the brand’s new luxury boutique at Siam Paragon. 

Brand manager Nitnapa Panpipat is enthusiastic about the mix of textures, which blend weaves with quilts and pleats and tapestry brocades with floral motifs. “The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold elements,” she says.

The idea of armour is portrayed in shapes that cocoon with chain, cross and stone details and hints of a medieval motif. The colour palette is moody, from loden and burgundy to greys and blacks. Textured brocades and jacquards, some with a masculine dragon pattern, are played up against decorative florals and paisleys, some finished with embroidery and beadwork. The medieval theme is also translated into beautiful bags and shoes, belts with chain details, and lace-up Ghillies. 

Bags take on the classic Robinson satchel but come in navy-and-green woven leather thus remaining fresh for summer and beyond.

Key looks include an embroidered and beaded cady dress with an interesting surface; beading and embroidery details inspired by antique tapestries; a jewelled melton wool dress; a tapestry intarsia knit turtleneck; and a tapestry print brocade skirt. 

Prints are very much in evidence throughout the collection with a cotton-silk jacquard jacket boasting a dragon print, a crepe de chine dress with a Kyoto print and cotton jacquard jacket with shearling collar in paisley. Shirts bear a multi- floral print and a shirt-dress in crepe-de-chine has an equestrian print that pays homage to the designer’s horse.

Ring-chain bracelets, a key accessory this autumn, adorn the wrist while handbags have a rectangular duffel style based on a vintage silhouette. Shoes are lace-up, chunky-heeled ghillies with tooled-leather detail.